“Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Whose gonna do it? You? I have more responsibility here than you could possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago’s death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And that my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. I know deep down in places you don’t talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punch-line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then question the manner in which I provide it. I prefer you said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand to post. Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you are entitled to!”

Almost everyone can recall at least one line from the movie, A Few Good Men starring Tom Cruise and Jack Nicolson, among others. The last few minutes and lines in this movie have become classic in our celebrity obsessed culture. Looking deeper into Jack’s (Col Jessup) lines, it says a lot about military culture and truly what these men and women sacrifice daily to be on the front lines of our nation’s defensive walls, which seem to have no end.

Colonel Jessup speaks about knowing things beyond what even others in the military community know and certainly beyond what average citizens of the US could possibly fathom. Our nation has a professional military partially for the very purpose, to ensure that regular citizens are not subjected to sacrifice and the horrors of combat. The Colonel continues on and states, not just the need for men with guns, but the fact that although many might never understand and even might not approve of the methods used by those in combat zones, unconsciously and perhaps consciously but certainly not voiced, they need and want these violent men acting on their behalf.

It has been decades since the days of conventional warfare, a tangible, worldwide evil attempting to destroy and lay waste to whomever dared cross their path. It is true, that at times, it may seem that there is no true enemy of our freedoms, lurking around the corner, pointing weapons or missiles in our direction, but that doesn’t mean the threats to our nation’s way of life don’t exist. I have no intention of arguing the validity of our involvement in Southwest Asia. Politics have no place on this website or the project itself. However, regardless of your political leaning, this nation does and will continue to need men and women willing to do violence on behalf of its citizens. Which takes me back to Colonel Jessup,” we live in a world with walls, and those walls need to be guarded by men with guns. Who’s going to do it? You?” We ask these men and women to do this violence on our behalf, whether directly or indirectly, and this has consequences, directly and indirectly. Deep down in places we don’t talk about at parties, we need these men and women on guard, ready to kill on our behalf, whether are Republican or Democrat, pro-war or anti-war. If you make a living within these walls, blessed by the freedoms that are afforded each of us because of the men and women of the past that have provided this blanket of freedom we are covered by.

Whether you are a pacifist and anti-war or pro-war and anti-pacifist, if you enjoy the freedoms afforded you by the Bill of Rights and the US Constitution, you MUST be pro-warfighter. Thanks to these men and women willing to stand up in our place, willing to sacrifice so we will never know what the horrors of losing a friend in combat are like. Thanks to those who put their lives on the line, giving up a part of themselves forever, so we can barbecue on Memorial Day and watch fireworks on the Fourth of July. Remember their sacrifice, strive to understand their perspective and respect and honor their memories.

This is least we can do for…..A Few Good Men.

Always Forward!Jaeson "Doc" Parsons

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Jaeson "Doc" Parsons

Founder and CEO of The Graffiti of War Project, Doc is a decorated combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom where he was a combat medic with the 54th Engineer Battalion. He is currently the a journalist for Force 12 Media and is featured weekly on SOFREP.com. Docas been featured in numerous media outlets such as Wired.com, Maxim.com and BusinessInsider.com. For more information about Jaeson "Doc" Parsons click HERE or send him an EMAIL.